2026-10-04
Every Sunday I write about things I learned the previous week. I try to do at least one deep dive on something I'm trying to learn and write it in my own words. Then I usually share some other random tidbits I picked up last this week.
I’m trying to learn a bit more music theory lately vs. just finding youtube tutorial for songs I want to learn (although I’m doing that too).
Scales always follow the same pattern of whole(W) and half(H) steps:
W-W-H-W-W-W-H
in guitar frets this translates to:
2-2-1-2-2-2-1
So, if you want to play any given scale on a single guitar string, just pick a starting note and then follow that pattern.
Examples:
Scale of G:
G-A-B-C-D-E-F#-G
Scale of A:
A-B-C#-D-E-F#-G#
When it comes to a chords, all the notes of a chord will contain the notes of that chord’s scale. Sometimes you may double up a note.
Examples:
G Chord
Notes: G, B, D, G, D, G
A Chord
Notes: A, E, A, C#, E
Intervals are just the gaps between notes. Starting at any given note you can play intervals on the same string by moving up X number of frets:
Major 2nd: 2 frets
Minor second: 1 fret
Major 3rd: 4 frets
Perfect 4th: 5 frets
Perfect 5th: 7 frets
Octave: 12 frets
A perfect 5th can be played on the next string up by moving 2 frets up on that string (unless you’re root is the G string then it’s 3 strings up) (Playing a note plus it’s perfect 5th on the next string are called power chords)